Accessory control system

Abstract

The invention concerns an accessory control system for automobiles. The apparatus integrates the user controls, the power switches that drive the accessories and motors for the accessories, and feedback from the accessories to allow the control system to apply proper corrections to the accessories. The system desirably includes semiconductor memory as well, allowing a user to command the control system to position the accessory to predetermined positions.

We claim:  
     
       1. A control system contained in a control housing for use with at least one bi-directional motor to position an accessory of a motorized vehicle, comprising: 
       a control housing;  
       a input connector mounted to the housing;  
       an output connector mounted to the housing;  
       solid state switches for supplying power to the motor, the solid state switches mounted inside the housing in a manner to dissipate heat and operably connected to the input connector; and  
       manual switches for controlling the power mounted to the housing and operably connected to the output connector,  
       wherein the solid state switches and manual switches are operably connected inside the housing.  
     
     
       2. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the means for controlling comprise high-current manual switches. 
     
     
       3. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switches are mounted on a mounting selected from the group consisting of a printed circuit board, a heat sink, and a printed circuit board with a thermal management system. 
     
     
       4. The control system of  claim 3 , wherein the drains of the solid state switches are tied together to form a thermal mass. 
     
     
       5. The control system of  claim 3 , further comprising a microcontroller that receives actuating signals from the manual switches, and controls the switching of the solid-state switches. 
     
     
       6. The control system of  claim 3 , wherein the means for controlling comprise non-contact switches selected from the group consisting of proximity switches and capacitance switches. 
     
     
       7. The control system of  claim 3  further comprising an accessory selected from the group consisting of a seat, a window, a mirror, a sunroof, a steering wheel, and an operating pedal selected from the group consisting of an accelerator, a brake, and a clutch, wherein the at least one bi-directional motor is connected to position the accessory. 
     
     
       8. The control system of  claim 7  further comprising a motorized vehicle selected from the group consisting of an automobile, a boat, a truck, a tractor, a farm vehicle or an off-road industrial vehicle, wherein the accessory is mounted to the motorized vehicle. 
     
     
       9. The control system of  claim 5 , wherein the microcontroller further comprises routines for speed control, current control, soft stop, and a routine to detect obstructions. 
     
     
       10. A method of positioning an accessory of a motorized vehicle, comprising the steps of: 
       providing at least one bi-directional motor;  
       providing a DC power source for at least one motor;  
       providing a controller having solid-state power switches and control switches inside a control housing;  
       connecting said DC power source to the controller;  
       connecting the controller to at least one motor;  
       actuating the switches to position the accessory; and  
       dissipating heat from the controller.  
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the motorized vehicle is an automobile, a boat, a truck, a tractor, a farm vehicle or an off-road industrial vehicle. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the accessory is selected from the group consisting of a seat, a window, a mirror, a sunroof, a steering wheel, and an operating pedal selected from the group consisting of a clutch, an accelerator and a brake. 
     
     
       13. A control system contained in a control housing, the control system having memory for use with a bi-directional motor to position an accessory of a motorized vehicle, comprising: 
       a control housing;  
       an input connector mounted to the housing;  
       an output connector mounted to the housing;  
       solid state switches for supplying power to the motor, the solid state switches mounted inside the housing in a manner to dissipate heat and operably connected to the input connector; and  
       manual switches for controlling the power mounted inside the housing, the manual switches operably connected to the output connector,  
       wherein the solid state switches and the manual switches are operably connected in the housing, and the solid state switches are responsive to the memory to automatically position the accessory upon command.  
     
     
       14. The control system  claim 13 , wherein the accessory has more than one axis of movement, and further comprising a bi-directional motor for each axis of movement, solid state switches for supplying power to each motor, manual switches for controlling the power to each motor, the solid state switches and manual switches connected in the housing, and wherein the solid state switches are responsive to the memory to automatically position the accessory upon command. 
     
     
       15. The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the memory is semiconductor memory and is capable of storing one or more predetermined settings for the position of the accessory and further comprising a microcontroller that receives actuating signals from the manual switches and controls the switching of the solid state switches. 
     
     
       16. The control system of  claim 15 , wherein the solid-state switches and the memory are mounted inside the housing on a mount selected from the group consisting of a printed circuit board, a heat sink, and a printed circuit board with a thermal management system. 
     
     
       17. The control system of  claim 15 , wherein the drains of the solid state switches are tied together to form a thermal mass. 
     
     
       18. The control system of  claim 15 , further comprising selector switches communicating with the memory to command the control system to position the accessory to pre-determined positions. 
     
     
       19. The control system of  claim 15 , further comprising a receiver adapted to receive remote signals to command the control system to position the accessory to pre-determined positions. 
     
     
       20. The control system of  claim 15 , further comprising an accessory selected from the group consisting of a seat, a window, a sunroof, a headrest, a steering wheel, and an operating pedal selected from the group consisting of an accelerator, a brake, and a clutch. 
     
     
       21. The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the manual switches comprise non-contact switches selected from the group consisting of proximity switches and capacitance switches. 
     
     
       22. The control system of  claim 18 , further comprising means for determining the distance and direction of travel of the accessory, and wherein said control system automatically computes and stores the travel necessary to position the accessory in one or more stored pre-determined position upon command. 
     
     
       23. The control system of  claim 18 , wherein the means for determining the distance and direction of travel is selected from the group consisting of a commutation pulse detection system, a resolver system, proximity sensors and current sensors. 
     
     
       24. The control system of  claim 15 , wherein the microcontroller further comprises routines for speed control, current control, soft start and soft stop, and a routine to detect obstructions. 
     
     
       25. The control system of  claim 20  further comprising a motorized vehicle selected from the group consisting of an automobile, a boat, a truck, a tractor, a farm vehicle and an off-road industrial vehicle, wherein the accessory is mounted to the motorized vehicle. 
     
     
       26. The control system of  claim 13 , wherein the means for supplying power comprises a solid-state switch, the means for controlling the power comprises at least one manual switch, and the memory is semiconductor memory. 
     
     
       27. The control system of  claim 26 , further comprising means for supplying electric power to a heater and means for controlling the power to the heater. 
     
     
       28. The control system of  claim 27 , wherein the means for supplying electric power to a heater comprise solid state switches and the means for controlling the power comprise a switch and a resistance temperature detector. 
     
     
       29. A method of automatically positioning an accessory of a motorized vehicle comprising: 
       providing at least one bi-directional motor;  
       providing a DC power source for at least one motor;  
       providing a controller having solid state power switches and control switches inside a control housing, said controller having a memory capable of recalling one or more pre-determined positions of the accessory, and means for commanding the bi-directional motor;  
       connecting the DC power source to the controller;  
       connecting the controller to at least one motor;  
       signaling the controller to position the accessory; and  
       dissipating heat from the controller.  
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29 , further comprising manual switches to signal the controller to position the accessory. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 29 , wherein the controller is adapted to receive a remote signal that commands the controller to position the accessory. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 29 , wherein the accessory is selected from the group consisting of a seat, a window, a mirror, a sunroof, a steering wheel, and an operating pedal selected from the group consisting of an accelerator, a brake, and a clutch. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 29 , wherein the method further comprises controlling the temperature supplied by a heater, said controller further comprising means for supplying electric power to a heater and means for controlling the power to the heater. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 29 , wherein the motorized vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an automobile, a truck, a farm vehicle or an off-road industrial vehicle.